 | |
| Full name | Vagonul Arad |
|---|---|
| Short name | Vagonul |
| Founded | 1911 |
| Dissolved | 2006 |
| Ground | Vagonul |
Vagonul Arad was afootball club based inArad, Romania. It was founded in 1911 and it soon became one of the best teams from Arad. It was affiliated toAstra Arad rail equipment manufacturing company. It was dissolved in 2006.
The club was formed in Arad in 1911 whenAMEF(Asociația Muncitorilor pentru Educație Fizică) (lit. 'Workers Association for Physical Education') merged withClubul Sportiv al Fabricii De Vagoane (Rail Cars Factory Sports Club), keeping the first ones name until 1948.[1][2]
AfterWorld War I it qualified for the national championship 3 times, but never being able to pass the semi-finals.
During 1932-1940 we see the club playing inLiga I, their best performance - 2nd place at the end of the1935-36 season.
In 1940 AMEF is dissolved by thelegionar regime, but afterWorld War II, we see it for a couple of years inLiga II (1946–1948).[3]
In 1948 it merges withAstra Arad, the new club being namedUVA-AMEFA, and plays for one season inLiga III, after which until 1955 it plays in the regional championship. Being renamedMetalul, plays for one year inLiga II (1955–1956) and for one year inLiga III (1956–1957). With a new nameEnergia, plays for one year inLiga II (1957–1958). In 1958 the club comes back to its traditional nameAMEF Arad, and plays in theLiga II until 1962.[3][4]
Once again the club is renamed, this time toVagonul, after its main sponsorÎntreprinderea de Vagoane Arad (Arad Rail Cars Enterprise). Under this name it plays inLiga II in the1962–1963 season, inLiga III in the1963–1964 season, and again inLiga II until 1968, at the end of which, the club succeeds to promote toLiga I. In the same year, the team reaches the semi-finals of theRomanian Cup. After only one season of top class football, the team relegates toLiga II and from now forward we see it going only down. 1969–1971Liga II, after thisLiga III, where they were close to the regional championship, but in 1973 a merger withCFR Arad saved them. The new team was given the nameUnirea, and plays inLiga II until 1977, in 1974 changing its name again, this time toRapid Arad. The 1977–1980 period sees the club inLiga III, 1980–1984 inLiga II, 1984–1989Liga III. In 1985 –CSM Rapid, 1986 –Vagonul, 1987 –CSM Vagonul.[4]
The club succeeds to promote toLiga II once again in 1989, from 1991 with the name ofAstra. The spell lasts only until 1992, and the club sees itself inLiga III once again. The name changes again:FC Arad in 1994,Telecom Arad in 1996, andRomtelecom in 2005.[4]
At the end of theLiga III 2005-06 season, the club finished 13th and relegated to the Arad County Championship (Fourth League), and with this we see the disappearance of another old Romanian football club.
| Name[1] | Period |
|---|---|
| AMEF Arad | 1911–1950 |
| Metalul Arad | 1950–1956 |
| Energia Metalul Arad | 1956–1958 |
| AMEF Arad | 1958–1961 |
| Vagonul Arad | 1961–1973 |
| Unirea Arad | 1973–1974 |
| Rapid Arad | 1974–1986 |
| Vagonul Arad | 1986–1991 |
| Astra Arad | 1991–1994 |
| FC Arad | 1994–1996 |
| Telecom Arad | 1996–2005 |
| Romtelecom Arad | 2005–2006 |
The footballers mentioned below have played at least 1 season for Vagonul Arad and also played inLiga I for another team.
Gheorghe Albu (1959–1964)Ionuț Popa (1996–1997)